The first US Dressage Finals Organizing
Committee members George Williams,
Debra Reinhardt, Monica Fitzgerald,Lloyd Landkamer, Janine Malone, and Kevin Bradbury
During the 2011 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention presented by SmarkPak the USDF BOG voted in favor of a proposed national championship to begin in 2013. That year the first US Dressage Finals was held at the Kentucky Horse Park and for the last three years the event has grown to be one of the premier dressage events in the country. Even though the history is still being made, let’s take a look back. Photos by Susan J Stickle, Bob Tarr, and USDF staff .
2013
In 2013, as the Prix St. Georges Adult Amateur Champion, Akiko Yamazaki on Matrix received the inaugural Janine Westmoreland Malone Perpetual Trophy, whose namesake (second from left ) was on hand for the ceremony,
2014
Californians Adrienne Bessey and Dido went home with the Janine Westmoreland Malone Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the adult-amateur Prix St. Georges champion; and the Lloyd Landkamer Perpetual Trophy for the FEI highest-scoring mare
Adult-amateur competitor Janne Rumbough and her PRE gelding Junior captured the Grand Prix Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship title and the new Calaveras County Perpetual Trophy at the 2014 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®
The US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® are fast becoming a showcase for all breeds. The 2014 Grand Prix Freestyle open champion, North Forks Cardi, owned and ridden by Jessica Wisdom (WA), is a 15-hand, 13-year-old Welsh Cob stallion
Mule Heart B Dyna and owner/rider Laura Hermanson wowed audiences at the Finals
2015
Veronica Holt Perpetual Trophy: Holt’s daughter Sally Hayes holds the new trophy while current USDF Region 5 director Heather Petersen and USDF president George Williams look on
2015 US Dressage Finals Grand Prix Open champions William and Gwen Poulin
Miki Christophersen Perpetual Trophy: Honoring the late former USDF Region 4 director are her daughter, Cathy Hanna; son, Hunter Christophersen; widower, Ed Christophersen; and USDF president George Williams
By Mike Osinski, USEF “S” and FEI Judge
With the popularity of Dressage Seat Equitation, the numbers are rising in these classes across the country. Here are a few tips for riders to understand what the judges are looking for in an Equitation class.
